Rocking inner-jaw end wrench



g 24, 8- J. H. BEARD v 2,447,835

ROCKING INNER-JAW' END-WRENCH Filed May 26, 1947 FIG: 6. F/G. 4

IN VEN TOR. 'c/onazhan H Beard mw m. 02%

A TTORNEYS.

?atented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,447,835aociimeinhale-Lew iiiin Jonathan H: Beard, Bmmm, Tex. Applieauon Ma 26,1947; Serial No. 750,590

Glai'ms.

The invention cameras a pawl actuated end wrench for use in adjustingnuts, st-iids'and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide an end Wrench suitable foruse in r1ative1y in The invention will be understood by referring to thefollowing description a'ndthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view showing one end of the Wrench. I

Fig. 2 is a right end view as seen froiiittheline 2- of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front View ofa' pawl which constitutes a portionof the device as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a right end yiewof anawi as see'nfrori'i" the line 6-4 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 15 a left end View as Si'i fri'ifii theiline 5+5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows amodified'form of the pawl as illustrated in Fig. 3. v p

Referring to the drawing, the wrench comprises a handle I having, a ring2 formed on one end thereof adapted to encircle a polyigonalifasteningdevice such as a nut or a s'tiid. A-ypawl 3 is pivotally mounted on oneside of the ring 2' adjacent the handle I.

The pawl 3 is fulcrumed intermediatits ends and has a tooth-like endportion 4 adaptdfwhen in an operative position to iitend iriwiidljtowardthe center of the ring to engage the fastenihg device anda bifiiicatedhdportion. ih1uding a pair of jaws 5 adapted to straddle theadjacentportion of the handle I. The handle I has a flattened portion6-adjaceiit the ring The ring 2 and the adjacent portionofthe handle Ihave a notch 1 formed theiein adapted to receive the pawi 3. One sideoflthe riot/EH 1, indicated by the iiiir'nral 8, is straight afidparallel to the center line or the handle I and the other side of thenotch 1, indicated by. thenumeral 9, is curved. The surface of the pawl3 intermediate th jaws 5; indicated by the mliiieral I6, is curved irithe' same direction as the cliij'ved siirface 9 of the notoh Ibut on ashorter radius,

Optionally one or both of the surfaces 9 and IU' may be straight; forexample, rather than curved. The ariange'rhnt is 'such that the pawl 3may be rocked back and forth iri; the notch 1. The straight side 8 0ithe notch I is adapted to limit rotation of the pawl 3 in one direction.

A- pair or lugs Il extend inwardly from the ends of the jaws 5. A pairof grooves I2 formed in the handle I on opposite sides thereof areadapted to receive the lugs II and to retain the pawl 3 in engagementwith the handle I. The grooves I2 are curved and the arrangement is suchthat the lugs II slide in the grooves I2 as the pawl 3 is rocked in thenotch I.

The pawl 3, which is subject to wear, may be readily replaced. Inassembling the wrench the jaws 5 of'the pawiama be s'preadapartmomentaiily arid the bifllrated end of the pawl t' may be sfiappediriplace over the adjacent portion of the handle I with the lugs IIslidably engagmg the grooves I2. Similar procedure may be followed uponremoving the pawl 3. The walls of the jaws E-may be thinned to increasethe flexibility thereof and to facilitate spreading them apart.Optionally the jaws 5 may be clamped in place; with or without heating.If desired the'liigs II maybe eliminated and the jaws 5 maybe deformedat their ends to engage the grooves I2. Holes may be drilled in the jawstan-d screws, pins or rivets may be inserted therein as 'siibstitutesfor the lugs II. A single slot extending thru the handle I may besubstituted for-the grooves.

A pair' of lug's I3positioned on opposite sides of thehandle' I' areadapted to engage the ends 'of' the jaws 5 tofurther limit rotation ofthe pawl" 3; in one direction.

A groove I4 extends across one edge of the handle I and across a pair oflugs I5 positioned on opposite sides of the handle I adjacent the edgethereof. A hairpin shaped wire spring I5 is receivable in the groove I4and extends inwardly' from thel e'dge of the handle I on opposite sides"thereof. The ends of the spring I6 engage the jaws 5 ofthe pawl 3 toyieldably maintain thepawi 3 in engagement with the straight side 8 ofthe notch I. Retaining grooves H are provided in the ends of; the jaws5to receive the ends of the spring I6.

The afr'angementis such that the pawl 3"remains fiiredin an operativeposition whenthe wrench is turned in one direction and is rotated to aninoperative position against the resistance of the spring I6; when thewrench is turned in the opposite direetion. Tn the modification shown inFig. 6 the tip of the end portion 4, in-

dicated by the numeral I8, is knurled rather than pointed as in thearrangement shown in Fig. 3.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. An end wrench comprising a handle having a ring formed on one endthereof adapted to encircle a polygonal fastening device, a pawlpivotally mounted on one side of the ring adjacent the handle, the pawlbeing fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having a tooth-like endportion adapted when in an operative position to extend inwardly towardthe center of the ring to engage the fastening device and having abifurcated end portion including a pair of jaws-adapted to straddle theadjacent portion of the handle, the handle having a flattened portionadjacent the ring, the ring and the adjacent portion'of the handlehaving a notch formed therein adapted to receive the pawl, one side ofthe notch being straight and parallel to the center line of the handle,the arrangement being such that the pawl may be rocked back and forth inthe notch, the straight side of the notch being adapted to limitrotation of the pawl in one direction, a pair of grooves formed in thehandle on opposite sides thereof adapted to be engaged by the ends ofthe jaws to retain the pawl in engagement with the handle, the groovesbeing curved and the arrangement being such that the ends of the jawsslide in the grooves as the pawl is rocked in the notch, and means foryieldably maintaining the pawl in engagement with the straight side ofthe notch.

2. An end wrench comprising a handle having a ring formed on one endthereof adapted to encircle a polygonal fastening device, a pawlpivotally mounted on one side of the ring adjacent the handle, the pawlbeing fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having a tooth-like endportion adapted when in an operative position to extend inwardly towardthe center of the ring to engage the fastening device and having abifurcated end portion including a pair of jaws adapted to straddle theadjacent portion of the handle, the handle having a flattened portionadjacent the ring, the ring and the adjacent portion of the handlehaving a notch formed therein adapted to receive the pawl, one side ofthe notch being straight and parallel to the center line of the handle,the arrangement being such that the pawl may be rocked back and forth inthe notch, the straight side of the notch being adapted to limitrotation of the pawl in one direction, a pair of lugs extending inwardlyfrom the ends of the laws, 2. pair of grooves formed in the handle onopposite sides thereof adapted to receive the lugs and to retain thepawl in engagement with the handle, the grooves being curved and thearrangement being such that the lugs slide in the grooves as the pawl isrocked in the notch, and means for yieldably maintaining the pawl inengagement with the straight side of the notch.

3. An end wrench comprising a, handle having a ring formed on one endthereof adapted to encircle a polygonal fastening device, a pawlpivotally mounted on one side of the ring adjacent the handle, the pawlbeing fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having a tooth-like endportion adapted when in an operative position to extend inwardly towardthe center of the ring to engage the fastening device and having abifurcated end portion including a pair of jaws adapted to straddle theadjacent portion of the handle, the handle having a flattened portionadjacent the ring, the ring and the adjacent portion of the handlehaving a notch formed therein adapted to receive the pawl, one side ofthe notch being straight and parallel to the center line of the handle,the arrangement being such that the pawl may be rocked back and forth inthe notch, the straight side of the notch being adapted to limitrotation of the pawl in one direction, a pair of lugs extending inwardlyfrom the ends of the jaws, a pair of grooves formed in the handle onopposite sides thereof adapted to receive the lugs and to retain thepawl in engagement with the handle, the grooves being curved and thearrangement being such that the lugs slide in the grooves as the pawl isrocked in the notch, a pair of lugs positioned on opposite sides of thehandle adapted to engage the ends of the jaws to further limit rotationof the pawl in one direction, and means for yieldably maintaining thepawl in engagement with the straight side of the notch.

4. An end wrench comprising a handle having a ring formed on one endthereof adapted to encircle a polygonal fastening device, a pawlpivotally mounted on one side of the ring adjacent the handle, the pawlbeing fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having a tooth-like endportion adapted when in an operative position to extend inwardly towardthe center of the ring to engage the fastening device and having abifurcated end portion including a pair of jaws adapted to straddle theadjacent portion of the handle, the handle having a flattened portionadjacent the ring, the ring and the adjacent portion of the handlehaving a notch formed therein adapted to receive the pawl, one side ofthe notch being straight and parallel to the center line of the handle,the arrangement being such that the pawl may be rocked back and forth inthe notch, the straight side of the notch being adapted to limitrotation of the pawl in one direction, a pair of lugs extending inwardlyfrom the ends of the jaws, a pair of grooves formed in the handle onopposite sides thereof adapted to receive the lugs and to retain thepawl in engagement with the handle, the grooves being curved and thearrangement being such that the lugs slide in the grooves as the pawl isrocked in the notch, a pair of lugs positioned on opposite sides of thehandle adapted to engage the ends of the jaws to further limit rotationof the pawl in one direction, and a spring secured to the handle andengaging the jaws of the pawl to yieldably maintain the pawl inengagement with the straight side of the notch.

5. An end wrench comprising a handle having a ring formed on one endthereof adapted to encircle a polygonal fastening device, a pawlpivotally mounted on one side of the ring adjacent the handle, the pawlbeing fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having a tooth-like endportion adapted when in an operative position to extend inwardly towardthe center of the ring to engage the fastening device and having abifurcated end portion including a pair of jaws adapted to straddle theadjacent portion of the handle, the handle having a flattened portionadjacent the ring, the ring and the adjacent portion of the handlehaving a notch formed therein adapted to receive the pawl, one side ofthe notch being straight and parallel to the center line of the handle,the arrangement being such that the pawl may be rocked back. and forthin the notch, the straight side of th notch being adapted to limitrotation of the pawl in one direction, a pair of lugs extending inwardlyfrom the ends of the jaws, a pair of grooves formed in the handle onopposite sides thereof adapted to receive the lugs and to retain thepawl in engagement with the handle, the grooves being curved and thearrangement being such that the lugs slide in the grooves as the pawl isrocked in the notch, a pair of lugs positioned on opposite sides of thehandle adapted to engage the ends of the jaws to further limit rotationof the pawl in one direction, a groove extending across one edge of thehandle and across a .pair of lugs positioned on opposite sides of thehandle adjacent the edge thereof, and a hairpin shaped wire springreceivabl in the last mentioned groove and extending inwardly from theedge of the handle on opposite sides thereof, the ends of the springengaging the jaws of the pawl to yieldably maintain the pawl inengagement with the straight side of the notch.

' JONATHAN H. BEARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

